Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-22
WEDNESDAYS COUNCIL.

The council called to advise as to the
dissolution of the relations between the
Congregational church of Middlebury
and its pastor, Rev. :. l.. b. Speare, met
at the lecture-room of the church on
Wednesday forenoon. 1t was called to
order by Rev. NJ. G. Stebbins of Corn
WALL who read the letter-missive and
also nominated Rev. F. w. Olmsted of
Bridport for chairman. Mr.. Olmsted
was elected and Mr.. Stebbins was chosen
scribe. Prayer was offered by Rev. Ed
ward Halves, ID. d.. of Burlington. The
roll of the council, when completed,
showed that the following churches were
represented AS stated: Bridport - Rev.
Mr.. Olmsted and Dea. j. +. Lamos;
Cornwall-Rev. NJ. G.. Stebbins and Dea.
c. ID. Lane; New Haven-Rev. W. b.
Hague and Dea. +. A. Doud; Orwell
+. NJ. Wright; Salisbury-Rev. c. II.
Kinney and j. +. Weeks; Weybridge-
Rev. II. p. James and Dea. Sam'l James
Whiting - Rev. W. NJ. Mayhem, Dea.
l.. c. Needham; Burlington-Rev. DR..
Hawes, f. L. Ripley; Rutland-D. j.
j. Mercure; Joseph Cook of Boston.
The records of the church and society
were read by the clerks of those bodies,
ana then long discussion was had as to
the grounds upon which the resignation
was based. 1t was participated in by
nearly every member of the council and
by some who were not members. The
chief point argued was whether the coun-
ell should go into the details of the diff
/ al, had Ia.
resignation. j. +. Crane. treasurer of
the society. made a statement showing
that the subscriptions and cash receipts
were less now than year ago, and Dea.
l.. G. Barrows said that while very large
majority were satisfied with the pastor
and his work, there were those who
wished a change; consequently there
was discord and crippling of the tinan-
ces, so that the acceptance of the resigna-
! ton was deemed advisable. Several more
members of the church spoke to the same
effect: but Rev. Mr. IIawes. Joseph
Cook and Others thought the council
ought to have more facts before it could
act Understandings 1t appeared upon
| inquiry that none of those opposed to
Mr.. Speare hadI expressed themselves.
and so, previous to adjournment for din
ner, it was voted, on motion of Rev. Mr..
Stebbins, that the council wished, on re-
assembling, to hear Il statement from
some one of those who desired a change
i'll the pastorate.
The afternoon session was opened with
prayer by Joseph Cook. Hon. John W.
Stewart stated the reasons why the So
called minority did not wish Mr.. Speare
to remain. There had been disafiection
for years, he said, which led, last winter,
| tn Irnxy n pt mi InI
to be cOuched in respectful terms, asking
that council be called to consider the
expediency of dissolving the relations
between pastor and people. Mr.. Speare
resigned and the church voted not to ac-
cept his resignation and not to call IA
council, The effect of these proceedings
was to intensity rather than allay the
disatfection. At least seventy-tiye
members of the church and congrega-
ton were included in what the pas
tors friends were pleased to call the
minority. The church was in condi-
ton of paralysis, and Mr.. Speare's con-
tinuance in the pastOrate would be disas-
trous. So long as he remained the large
and constantly-increasing debt could not
be paid. Mr.. Speare next read long
and carefully-prepared statement of his
side of the case, in which he set forth the
origin ana growth OF tIle opposition TO
himself and to his work as he understood
it. He held, in substance, that certain
members of the church, who are now
prominent in opposition, had conspired,
from almost the very beginning of his
pastorate, to put obstacles of various
kinds in the way of his work and to em-
barrass him in his efforts for temperance
and other reforms. He mentioned at
length conversations and acts on the
part of these persons and others which,
to his mind, proved the assertions which
he made. The paper of last winter, to
which reference had been made, was signed
by but few active members of the church.
Mr.. Stewart denied in detail the truth
of the pastors conclusions, although he
believed Mr.. Speare sincerely entertained
the views he had expressed. DIR. Hawes
and Mr.. Cook wanted more definite
charges against Mr.. Speare. Prof. Eaton,
f. A. Bond and Principal Mead spoke
briefly, giving their versions of the
causes of the disaffectiOn. Remarks
were made by Rev. Mr.. Kinney and Mr.
Cook, and then the council voted to be
by itself. 1t occupied something over an
hour in its deliberations, and at about
6 80 p. m, having reported its findings
adjourned. The resolutions adopted by
the council were as follows:
Resolped, That after listening to all the state
ments presented by church, society and pas
not find sufficient reason tor assuming the re
spOnsibility of advising the dissolution of thi,